More than one in four Fife schools don’t have smoke alarms

Statistics also reveal that some buildings do not have any fire alarms fitted

Statistics released following a destructive blaze at a Fife school have revealed a significant minority of schools have no smoke detectors fitted.

Cairneyhill primary was devastated by fire in December.

Although around 200 pupils and staff escaped the burning building unharmed there were concerns that the blaze was only discovered when a security alarm was set off, and not a designated fire alarm.

A subsequent incident report from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed there were no smoke triggered alarms fitted in the school and that the break glass call points had not been activated.

Now figures have emerged revealing that only 72% of the school estate across the region is fitted with smoke detectors.

Inquiries by Green Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Mark Ruskell have also revealed that not every Fife school is fitted with a fire alarm, with around 1% said to be relying on a manual bell or hand bell to alert children and teachers to any incidence of fire.

Mr Ruskell, who said he sought the information from Fife Council following the Cairneyhill fire, said he was “very worried” about the apparent lack of simple smoke detectors in the

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The recent fire at Cairneyhill was only discovered because a security alarm was activated – as there was no smoke detector in place. MARK RUSKELL MSP

Kingdom’s school buildings.

“The recent fire at Cairneyhill was only discovered because a security alarm was activated – as there was no smoke detector in place,” he said.

“It doesn’t bear thinking about what the consequences might have been if that security alarm hadn’t triggered.

“It is often said in the aftermath of such incidents that lessons will be learned.

“It is vital that in this instance that really happens and we see the rollout of smoke detectors and fire alarms to all of Fife’s schools.

Mr Ruskell has also raised the issue with Education Secretary John Swinney and was informed that Mr Swinney had written to all local authorities in August about fire safety arrangements and had been “reassured that local authorities have taken all steps necessary to ensure the fire safety of their schools”.

Shelagh Mclean, head of education and children’s services at Fife Council, stressed that every school in Fife complies with regulations and has a fire plan in place.

“By law our buildings have to be fitted with ‘appropriate…. means for giving warning in the event of fire’ (Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006),” she said.

“Our schools have robust systems in place to deal with emergency situations.

“Whether a school needs a fire alarm system is dependent on when the building was built and the layout of the school.

“All new builds have automatic fire detection systems with a link to the emergency services.

“And we take every opportunity to replace systems in older buildings as part of major alterations or renovation works.”

Picture: Steven Brown. Cairneyhill Primary School was gutted by fire last month.